Prized draft pick Colby McKercher and trade recruits Dylan Stephens and Zac Fisher are among the new faces named in North Melbourne's squad to take on Collingwood in Wednesday's match simulation at AIA Centre.
Having impressed in last week's intraclub match, McKercher will get his first chance to test himself against AFL opposition. Fellow 2023 national draftee Riley Hardeman joins him in the squad to play the reigning premiers.
Kangaroos fans will also have their first opportunity to see versatile small Fisher in the royal blue and white.
The former Blue missed last week's intraclub match while returning to fitness after a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Stephens has hit the ground running since joining the club from Sydney during the 2023 Trade Period, topping the club's shuttle run results in November. He is named alongside new recruits Toby Pink, who arrived as a delisted free agent in October, and ex-Tiger Bigoa Nyuon.
Second-year stars George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel will both face the Magpies, alongside a host of senior Roos including midfield gun Luke Davies-Uniacke, spearhead Nick Larkey and co-captain Jy Simpkin.
Small forward Paul Curtis has been cleared to play after suffering a minor ankle sprain at training last week, but highly touted youngster Zane Duursma will miss due to knee soreness.
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BUY NOWWith bouncedown slated for 10am AEDT, the match simulation will consist of four modified quarters.
Terms one and three will run for 25 minutes. Quarters two and four will run for 20 minutes under the same conditions, followed by a further five minutes of scenario-based play.
The Kangaroos will start one scenario ahead by seven points and the other scenario behind by seven points, as both teams simulate the closing stages of a real game.
Match simulation
Collingwood v North Melbourne
Wednesday, February 21
10am AEDT
AIA Centre (Olympic Park Oval)
Broadcast on Fox Footy and Kayo
North Melbourne Squad
2 Jaidyn Stephenson
3 Harry Sheezel
6 George Wardlaw
9 Luke Davies-Uniacke
10 Colby McKercher
12 Jy Simpkin
14 Liam Shiels
15 Dylan Stephens
16 Zac Fisher
17 Riley Hardeman
20 Nick Larkey
21 Callum Coleman-Jones
24 Tom Powell
25 Paul Curtis
27 Miller Bergman
28 Bigoa Nyuon
29 Will Phillips
30 Charlie Comben
31 Josh Goater
32 Toby Pink
35 Charlie Lazarro
37 Cooper Harvey
38 Tristan Xerri
41 Blake Drury
42 Kallan Dawson
44 Cameron Zurhaar
46 Robert Hansen jnr